Halfback TJ Perenara has been named on the All Blacks’ bench for Saturday night’s second Bledisloe Cup test against Australia.
Perenara, who missed the Hurricanes’ Super Rugby campaign in favour of a Japanese sabbatical earlier this year, wasn’t required for last weekend’s 33-25 win in the series opener.
However, he’s replaced Brad Weber on the bench for the second test at Eden Park, one of a few changes head coach Ian Foster has made.
He’s also moved Rieko Ioane back to centre to replace Anton Lienert-Brown, who took a knock to the knee last weekend and wasn’t available.
Unavailable with a hamstring strain last week, Will Jordan returns to the side and slots on to the right wing, shifting fellow Crusader Sevu Reece to the No 11 jersey, which Ioane donned last week.
Ioane put in one of his best performances in recent memory last weekend, convincing many punters he ought to scrap his plan of becoming a specialist centre.
But with the midfield stocks light, Foster had little choice but to return Ioane to the No 13 jersey.
Crusaders centre Braydon Ennor (appendicitis) was released to Canterbury’s NPC team last week but didn’t play, and it remains to be seen if he will suit up for the red and blacks against the Turbos on Saturday.
Foster has also kept Beauden Barrett and Jordie Barrett on the pine, opting to stick with Damian McKenzie at fullback over the latter, arguably the best New Zealand fullback during Super Rugby.
The forward pack is unchanged, and continues to be without injured props Joe Moody and Ofa Tu’ungafasi. Both are expected to play provincial rugby before fronting for the All Blacks.
The side includes lock and Crusaders captain Scott Barrett on the bench, after he withdrew from last week’s test with an illness.
Hooker Dane Coles (tight calf), also scratched late from Bledisloe I, has not been declared fit for purpose and has been replaced by Samisoni Taukei’aho on the bench.
Loose forward Shannon Frizell has served his two-match suspension, handed down by NZ Rugby, for assaulting a young couple in a Dunedin bar on May 9, but has not been picked.
He has instead been made available for the second round of the NPC, and is expected to front for Tasman against Auckland in Nelson on Saturday afternoon.
Frizell was offered diversion by police, and it was reported he wasn’t likely to be convicted over the incident. This will be determined at a hearing on September 21.
No 8 Hoskins Sotutu, again not required by the All Blacks, is set to front for Counties Manukau against North Harbour in Pukekohe on Friday night.
“We’re all excited to be returning to Eden Park for the second Bledisloe Cup Test. It’s been a very ‘forward looking’ week. We were delighted with the result last weekend and, obviously, had some things that we had to work on this week, so that has kept us focussed,” Foster said in a statement.
“We know that Australia will be disappointed with the result and will lift. It’s a do or die game for them.
“But the Bledisloe Cup means a lot to us. It’s an historic trophy, and it’s easy for people to take it for granted based on results in recent years, but throughout history it has been a hard cup to win, so it’s hugely important.”
All Blacks: Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Sevu Reece, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Sam Whitelock (c), Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, George Bower. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Angus Ta’avao, Scott Barrett, Luke Jacobson, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett.
